These are a Few of My Favorite Things
One of the best ways to get through hard times is to change your mind. I know sometimes that can seem to be very hard to do, but really we make it as easy or as hard as we choose. My experience has taught me that you can’t think two thoughts at the same time and I have experimented with that truth for more than 45 years and I know for sure it is impossible to do. So what? Well, the bad news is, when you think a “worry” thought and stick to it for a bit of time, your beautiful mind searches your hard drive for more thoughts to add to the initial worry thought. In a few minutes you can be sucked into a pity party of your own making. The good news is the same thing can happen with a “happy” thought.
Remember in The Sound of Music when the Von Trapp children were terrified by the thunder storm? Maria sang “My Favorite Things”
to them and they danced and sang and jumped on the bed and had a pillow fight and the storm was out of their minds.
Below I have printed out the absolutely brilliant lyrics for My Favorite Things (written by Oscar Hammerstein II) (pronounced HAM-err-styne), followed by my own lyrics to the same tune. I guarantee that if you were feeling bad when you started reading my essay, you'll feel better when you finish reading Oscar’s words. As you read each line think for a few seconds about what it means to you. My lyrics don’t come near to the poetic brilliance of Mr. Hammerstein’s, but they do make ME feel good! Maybe you can write your own words or at least make a list of your favorite things and carry it with you to read every time you start to feel sad or bad or worried or mad or. . .oh well, you know what I mean.
Then you won't feel so bad!
My Favorite Things lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein
Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens
Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens
Brown paper packages tied up with strings
These are a few of my favorite things
Cream colored ponies and crisp apple strudels
Doorbells and sleigh bells and schnitzel with noodles
Wild geese that fly with the moon on their wings
These are a few of my favorite things
Girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes
Snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes
Silver white winters that melt into springs
These are a few of my favorite things
When the dog bites
When the bee stings
When I'm feeling sad
I simply remember my favorite things
And then I don't feel so bad
My Favorite Things lyrics by Pam
Laughter of children and Starbucks on Sundays
Soft puppy tummies and dusk’s purple sunrays
The peace of an infant that sleeps while mom sings
These are a few of m
y favorite things
Dawn in the mountains, sunset in the valley
Warm bread from the oven with butter and jelly
Running on beaches and kites with long strings
These are a few of my favorite things
Barbeque smoke on a warm summer’s evening
The breeze in the trees and remembering my dreaming
Being thankful for blessings each precious day brings
These are a few of my favorite things
When I’m worried
When I’m angry
When I’m feeling sad
I simply remember my favorite things
And then I don’t feel so bad
A list of your favorite things will give you a spiritual faith lift and lead you to a place in your mind where you can know all is well. . . .because it is! I love you all.
